Indian sports wrap, December 9: Sports Minister Mandaviya assures equal treatment for deaf athletes

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday assured equal treatment and facilities for deaf athletes after India returned with an impressive haul of 55 medals from the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games in Kuala Lumpur.

India was represented by 68 athletes, who bagged eight gold, 18 silver and 29 bronze medals at the Games held from December 1 to 8.

India finished fifth overall in 21-team tournament.

“I congratulate all the athletes for making the country proud. 55 medals is not a small achievement, it’s a grand performance,” Mandaviya said during a felicitation function organised at his residence for the contingent.

The achievement is a marked improvement by the deaf athletes who secured just five medals — three gold and two silver — in the last Asia Pacific Deaf Games held in Taoyuan, Taiwan in 2015.

-PTI

CHESS

Nine year-old Aarit Kapil becomes youngest Indian to beat a chess Grandmaster

Nine-year-old Delhi boy Aarit Kapil has become the youngest Indian to beat a chess Grandmaster as he emerged victorious against Raset Ziatdinov of the United States in the ninth and penultimate round of the KIIT International open tournament here.

At 9 years, 2 months and 18 days, Aarit is the youngest Indian and third in the world to beat a GM under the classical time control.

The youngest player in the world to beat a GM is Indian-origin Singapore boy Ashwath Kaushik who won against Jacek Stupa of Poland when he was just 8 years and six months old earlier this year.

While the victory places Aarit among the elite young talents, it remains to be seen how he performs in upcoming tournaments. The next challenge awaits him in form of under-13 national championship to be held at Durgapur later this month, followed by his own age group event, the under-9 nationals in Pune.

Meanwhile, Grandmaster Boris Savchenko of Russia won the KIIT tournament, settling for a draw with India’s Sayantan Das in the final round. Savchenko scored 8.5 points out of a possible 10.

-PTI